School for bond from parents

A school in Andheri has asked students of Class 9 and 10 to submit an undertaking signed by their parents before a magistrate, which states that the children would be well behaved during the school year.

A school in Andheri has asked students of Class 9 and 10 to submit an undertaking signed by their parents before a magistrate, which states that the children would be well behaved during the school year.

The circular issued on April 2 by Prime Academy said if students did not supply the undertaking, they would not be allowed to continue studying at the school. “We want our children to be well-disciplined, and this was the need of the hour,” said Chaula Joshi, the school's director. “All schools take an undertaking in the school diary, but no one values that. If parents do not follow the circular that means they are supporting the bad behaviour of the students.”

The ICSE school managed by Bhagubhai Sendhalal Patel Charitable Trust has about 650 students, but the circular is only for students of Class 9 and 10.

The circular states: “This is to inform all students that it is mandatory for them to bring along an undertaking of good behaviour sworn to by his/her parents or guardian before a magistrate court… Any student who fails to subscribe to the undertaking of good behaviour should consider himself/herself not registered for the 2011/12 academic session.”

Parents had forwarded the circular to non-profit group, Forum For Fairness in Education, which plans to take up the issue with the education minister. “Most private schools are searching for new reasons to harass parents and students,” said Jayant Jain, president of the Forum. “The government should take strict action against such schools.”